What does Acts 27:21 mean?
Paul is on a ship supposedly headed to Rome. The ship left Myra on the southwest coast of modern-day Asia Minor and was promptly blown off course. They managed to reach Fair Havens, a port on the southern coast of Crete, just as the winter storms began. Paul told the ship owner and pilot to stay there; presumably his extensive travel experience warned him they would very likely lose the ship, the cargo, and everyone on board if they risked moving. The sailors knew the harbor they'd reached wasn't good to stay the winter. Instead, they resolved to make for Phoenix, a little farther west. But, the winds shifted and drove them into a storm very close to the sand bars off the coast of Libya (Acts 27:6–17).Paul's "I told you so" may sound petty, but it's purposeful. He's reminding them that he was right once before, so they will listen to what he says next. He's apparently been praying, and the Holy Spirit has promised that no one will die (Acts 27:22, 24). He was right about the danger of leaving Crete; they need to believe him now.
The text isn't clear why no one has eaten, but it's likely a combination of seasickness and the impossibility of preparing food in the middle of a typhoon (Acts 27:14). Beyond waves and wind, supplies may have gotten wet with sea water or destroyed by the violent waves. Passengers typically stayed on the deck and were responsible for their own food; it's hard to imagine anyone has anything left that isn't soaked with sea water. On day fourteen, they will eat a little wheat from the cargo but then throw the rest overboard (Acts 27:35–38).
We don't know if anyone is injured; Luke likely would have said so if there were any notable casualties. The "loss" includes the time as well as some of the cargo and the ship's tackle (Acts 27:18–19).
